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So, I got an idea for a Tyranid list based on the idea of DSing Tervigons into my opponent's front lines. I was wondering what the Tyranid playing community would think of this tactic...

Swarmlord with Tyrant Guard (for boost to reserves and melee prowess)

2x Tervigons in Tyrannocytes
2x 30 Termagants (making Tervigons Obsec)

Zoanthrope brood in Tyrannocyte (for mid-field synapse)

2x Ravener broods w/rending (for fast melee threat)

Brood of 3 Carnifex (kitted for melee and tank hunting)

Sprinkle in whatever else you could want or think this army lacks in terms of composition. Obviously, I'm a bit biased towards making this assault oriented but that's the idea, make your opponent have to deal with the Tervigons before they start spawning Obsec all over the place in their front lines. Could work.

I think it's a fun idea for sure and forgetting competitive meta for a moment it should be fun to play.

I wouldn't discourage you from using Tervigons as I play them myself and have fun but they can be detrimental to your army once they die. Synaptic backlash is a big pain.

I know that taking the Swarmlord seems fun but he is so slow no one is ever going to let you get into CC with him. Personally if I were going to do something similar to this list I would do it like this
-Remove Swarmlord and Tyrant Guard
-Remove two tyrannocytes

+2 X Flying Hive Tyrants with 2 Brainleech Devourers & Hive Commander (gives a troop choice outflank)
+Aegis Defense Line w/ Comms Relay (for reserve re-roll)
keep everything else the same (even though I would split the carnifex into three separate broods.)

This way you aren't investing so much into a beatstick boss monster who won't ever see combat and you can essentially split him into two synapse giving HQ's that also allow for your Tervigons to outflank. I LOVE doing this. (although normally I only do it with one Tervigon and then outflank a unit of devil gaunts )

But... no one plays non-flyrant nids to be competitive these days any way so if you're just doing it for fun keep your list as is. These are just a few thoughts.

Your podding units will die before they ever get help from the rest of your army and the ravs will struggle to make it even close without being killed off.

Tervigons aren't bad, but by shoving them in someone's face your sentencing them to a quick death, even spawning gants as quick as you can, they won't do a lot.

Zoanthropes are zoanthropes, a stray krak missile ends them much like all the mid sizes critters.
While they may pop a tank, they won't last much longer.

While on paper raveners seem good, you need to remember they are T4 with paper for armour.
Almost everything will ignore it and your only saving grace will be cover.
A single shot from any battle cannon like weapon will remove a unit at a time.


The swarmlord and fex are all stuck in the same situation.
All slowly walking up the board while the rest of your army dies around them.

If you want something to fit the idea and work better, drop the fex and run 2 mawlocs, these will help remove stable gun lines and prevent your pod units taking as much damage.

Drop swarmy and his guard for a TL devourer x2 flyrant.
This gives you the speed to get there, resilience to being shot at and allows you to keep synapse where you need it.

I'd try and wiggle the points for another one if possible, if not maybe even a trygon for tunneling or another mawloc for max damage as soon as possible.




Walking nids suffer badly, doesn't matter how you try and boost them they are still slow as hell.
Even once they get there you have the issue of being outmaneuvered by a faster army.





Edit:

While I am a nids player and I hate to say it, anything short of the basic cheese really struggles against everyone these days.

If you are intent on running ravs, make it a big unit and buy the red terror.
At the very least he can tank the odd S8 or 9 weapon and save a ravener from instant death.

As I said, it's sad to say but nids are struggling.
I own 3 maxed units of old raveners and only ever use them in fun games.
I've tried multiple times to make them work in even a slightly competitive setting, but they just die too easily.



If synapse gave back immunity to instant death like it used to, this would be very different and I feel nids would do a lot better.
But for now?
It's essentially flyrant spam or lose in a competitive environment.